Let’s face it, there are times when no matter what you do, nothing seems to work And, now that we’re over the age of 50, our personal “luck ledger” appears to have migrated from assets to liabilities a lot more often.

Life is a game. Yes, a game. And, as in almost all games, there is momentum. It happens inexplicably. Everything is going along perfectly. And, then suddenly, things turn upside down. They go sideways, up and around but definitely not heading in your direction. There is no real reason for the course change. It just happens.

Even Psychologists can’t figure out why. It’s just part of the life experience. It’s immutable. It’s unexpected and, when it happens, IT HAPPENS!.

I remember when I first got into Retail Sales. Now, I had done well in Radio as talent. So, why would I have trouble in Sales? Famous last words. I was in for a very rude awakening. I got hit big time with a reality pie. Starting off, I couldn’t make a sale or do one thing right.

One day, I called on a college in San Mateo, CA. The meeting was with a man who had been the President of NBC Radio. Needless to say, he was a very sharp guy. He took one look at me and said that I looked like some dead meat brought in by a stray dog.

And, I felt that way. I had no hope. That man’s name is Charley Warner. And, I am so grateful to have had him come into my life at that time. Thank you, Charley Warner.

Warner read me the riot act. He told me to get off my butt, make a list of all good things I’d accomplished in life and come back in a week with the list.

At first, I could not think of even one good thing. I was so down and out and feeling like there was no future.. That’s not the kind of attitude that attracts success especially when you’re you’re married with 2 kids and located 3000 miles away from your home base. I was the furthest thing from perfection.

It took me a considerable amount of time to complete the assignment. Now, I was starting out in Sales and the goals I’d set for myself were perfection personified. Talk about delusion. In retrospect, the goals were impossible to achieve. I had overlooked the obvious facts: learn to crawl before you walk, walk before you can run. Most importantly, understand that previous skills and talents take time for integration into the new mix.

But, the more time spent working at Warner’s assignment, the more I accepted my good, I re-evaluated my worth and began realizing that life really is a game. And, in games, there is momentum.

What I learned is that none of us is perfect and never will be. Perfection is an unattainable goal. So, stop striving for perfection and re-calculate for Excellence.

Striving for Perfection is demoralizing. It leads to failure and depression. It’s a waste of time and drags you down. Take it from someone who knows. I’m Exhibit A.

Excellence is motivating. You and I are not perfect. But, even now, I can beat myself up unmercifully, trying to reverse mistakes and seek perfection. All I’m really doing is getting in my own way, interfering with the pendulum of momentum and not necessarily in a positive direction. The result: too much of a not so good a thing. .

Life has it’s ups and downs but mindset affects duration.

Now, Reflection is something we all need to do now and then. But, too much is paralyzing. It stops growth. And, part of growth is making mistakes and learning from them. That does not mean imposing a sentence of self-imposed servility and brow-beating.

Actually, too much reflection incubates an atmosphere of perfection. Self-absorption obstructs reality. And, since no one can attain perfection which is not reality, we wind up in a virtual lotus position, accomplishing little and becoming more depressed.

Worst of all, you become a theorist. And, talking is no substitute for actually doing.

The next thing you know you’re aggravated, annoyed and shrieking to the heavens …………..…and, well,……………….….. Don’t go there.

Life is a game and games have momentum. They have ups and downs. Attitude abbreviates or prolongs current momentum. Down times don’t last forever. Accept the fact that there is no perfection. So, be Excellent. Know it, believe it, get off your butt and get going.